Nine Gates by Jane Lindskold

Author:Jane Lindskold [Lindskold, Jane]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 978-0-7653-5622-2
Publisher: Tor Books
Published: 2009-08-29T04:00:00+00:00

XVIII

The pine door was waiting in the grove. As she waited for her turn to cross the threshold, Brenda couldn’t decide whether the entire experience was ordinary or completely extraordinary.

After all, to get here we had to walk into a tiger’s mouth. That somehow seems more right than just opening a door and walking from one world into another.

But she did, and decided that the experience was pretty wonderful after all—especially since when she looked back, all she saw was the other side of the warehouse, without a leaf or blade of grass from the White Tiger’s jungle.

The clock on Brenda’s cell phone—which, like the phone itself, had stopped functioning as soon as they passed into the guardian domains—now read 8:30 a.m.

That was early by some standards, but since they’d risen at dawn—prompted by some very noisy birds—eaten a light breakfast and then hiked for several miles, Brenda felt as if the day was already quite old.

Fascinating and enticing as Pai Hu’s realm had been, Brenda was very glad to feel the very ordinary firmness of the concrete slab under the soles of her shoes and see the normal, dull corrugated metal warehouse roof over her head.

She’d been the second one through—Des had come first—and now she stepped clear to let the others follow. They did so in neat order, although Brenda saw Honey Dream cast a long, wistful look back over her shoulder as she stepped over the threshold.

Since he’d changed into normal clothing on the other side, Des sealed the gate, thanking the Men Shen for their continued assistance. Honey Dream grabbed her pack and headed for the large closet to change out of the Chinese-style tunic and baggy pants she’d worn in the guardian domains. Riprap pulled the keys to the van out of his pocket.

“We’ll start loading things,” he said, collecting Brenda and Nissa to him with a toss of his head. “It’s going to go faster without having to fit our junk in around the door.”

Des unshouldered his pack and pulled out his phone.

“I’ll call Pearl and tell her we’re back, and should be to the house in about a half hour.”

Flying Claw grinned. “I’m not trying to get out of the heavy work, but I think I’d better change out of my armor and pack it. No need to attract attention.”

By the time the van was loaded, both Honey Dream and Flying Claw had finished changing, and Des had pocketed his phone.

“Pearl suggests that since after a couple days camping, we’re all probably pretty ripe, why don’t we drop Honey Dream and Flying Claw off at Colm Lodge. They can shower there, brief Waking Lizard and Righteous Drum, and join us all at Pearl’s a little later.”

Unspoken but understood was that although they were allies, still their groups were separate and time to confer privately would be appreciated.

So would a shower, Brenda thought, wondering if she could beat Nissa into the bathroom they shared. Probably. Lani is going to need some mommy-time.

To everyone’s surprise but possibly Des’s, they found Lani waiting for them at Colm Lodge.

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